Yep, just about did that but I don't want to toss any more codes in the mix. I have limped home on that concept before, which is why I have a new air meter. The plan at this point is to take it into Auto Stop here in Bozeman in the morning and see what they come up with, keeping my tech in Seattle in the loop if necessary and my fingers crossed. We still have ~2K miles planned on this road trip...

Mike,
Thanks for the offer of support, quite cool. And I plan to procure a code reader in the very near future. This is my only OBDII car so I've resisted to date, but now I've learned the hard way, it's a must have in the road trip tool kit.

James,
Will do, if needed. The techs at Strictly have been good to me and they know the car (all too) well. I've not heard of Signature but will look at them too.

Mark, although I'm all the way on the east coast in CT, I'll be home all day in the next two days. If you need any help in looking up part numbers, making phone calls, etc, please feel free to PM me and I will give you my cell phone number - let me know how I can help to keep your trip problem-free! Your Xoutpost friends are here to assist!

Good news!
 

We're back on the road - fuel filter was the culpret. The local shop here, Auto Stop, was awesome to work with. The owner, Randy Wild, ferried me back and forth from hotel to shop, in addition to flexing his other jobs to fit me in. That, and all your input is very much appreciated.

...off to enjoy the great Montana hwys!! :D

More Cheers,
Mark

Happy trails Mark!!!:zoom::zoom:
Give us a shout when you get back to Seattle.

Post Script...
 

Home in Seattle now, the new fuel filter solved the prior issue. BUT, when pulling into Vegas after a 600 mile day in 105 degree heat, the trans slipped. In denial, I continued, another slip then the dreaded down shift 'frump'. We're toast! Bottom line, a) We're lucky to have limped home, b) We need a new or rebuilt trans. Ugh!!

So a question: Has BMW NA every stepped in to help any of us with these defective slush boxes (circa 2001)?

There's a cost associated with owning and driving these wonderful beasts... I was kind of pissed at it and went looking at other similar vehicles. But after driving some of them (including an X3), we decided to pay to fix our X. Since then we are tolerating one another a little better, so I washed it today...

Had the filter ever been changed before (I ask sheepishly w/62k miles on the odo and a 2500 mile drive staring me in the face in December)?

I was going to say to call me, but as I read the thread, sounds like you got it handled. Just my .02, but I change the transmission fluid and filter, plugs, fuel and air filters, diff, etc all around the 60k like clockwork on all my personal and my customers BMW's. Glad you got it figured out though.

I'd suggest a good resetting of your ECU and maybe a tranny service before you go replacing the transmission though. Yank out your spare, disconnect the battery cables and let them sit touched together overnight to give it a poormans reset. Just like Win7, sometimes a reboot solves a lot of problems.

Thanks M5James for the mileage intervals. I was going to change the plugs before my trip to DC but just did the air filter since I *knew* it was dirty. With the extended maintenance plan, I hate prematurely changing stuff (except fluids -- already did diffs, tc, oil at 2x the recommended interval, etc.).

I'll get the fuel filter done when I get home (roughly 65k on the beasty by then -- I won't be driving too much out here).

We should arrange a quick Las Vegas X's meet this weekend since I'll be in town!